By Tolu Atobatele
Expectations were high. Anticipations were rigorous. Permutations were easy. Soccer enthusiasts were easily predictable.
Everything concerning the Uefa Champions League were one way. All fingers pointed at one direction.
Low and behold it was the grand finale stage of the Uefa Champions League. Football followers all over the world were apprehensive. The common discuss at every mammoth gathering was the Champions League final. The tie had two English clubs Manchester City against Chelsea (with different football traditions and histories).
Manchester City were making its debut in the Final of the world most lucrative club football competition after several attempts failed in the past while Chelsea were making its third appearance in the final having featured in 2008 final against another of English club, Manchester United but lost on penalty shootout and featured also at the 2012 Final against Bayern Munich and this time around winning the trophy via penalty shootout for the first time in the club history.
For soccer buffs, the tie was a walk- over. The common belief amongst those entangled or carried away or lost in the soccer artistry of Manchester City was that history (2008 final ) will once again repeat itself as Chelsea were up against another club from Manchester.
To be or not to be was the weak faith of the few followers who believe in the ability of Chelsea due to their impressive and electrifying performance in their domestic league since Thomas Tuchel took over the reign from erstwhile coach Frank Lampard.
If not for anything they had managed a final berth again after having dislodge some of Europe football heavyweights like Athletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Porto at the round of 16, quarter final and semi final stages respectively.
If not for anything they were the only EPL team that surprised soccer followers with their performance in the competition.
Gamblers were not left out. The bet was easily on Manchester City. Only the die-hard Chelsea fans or gamblers who were not too sure of themselves stood by their darling team.
And so the die was cast. It was going to be another give away result as some believes Chelsea will once again confine Manchester City to the bin of defeat just as they did in EPL matches and FA cup game.
It was all about Guardiola’s magic. Little chance was given to Chelsea who apparently came fourth in EPL standing an d picked the last Uefa Champions League spot for next season.
After all the common predictions by some football pundits favored Manchester City going into the final game but football proved them all wrong. The thought were that Manchester City will walk past Chelsea easily and win the trophy for the first time. Not even at the wildest imagination of any enthusiast that the trophy will return to London after nine years of bringing the trophy to Stamford Bridge.
At certain quarters Manchester City were already being celebrated as winners of Uefa Champions League 2020/2021 season.
The world was waiting to see the best of football from these two teams. There was yet another classic game in the waiting, the importance of the Uefa Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC.
The final of it’s kind for the season 2020/2021 can not be over emphasized. It was meant to determine the winner of the 2020/2021 Uefa Champions League.
The Blues had every difficulty one could imagine in a football game particularly the way Manchester City plays yet they managed to get a goal through Kai Havertz who coolly beat Ederson before slotting the ball into the back of the net for the only goal of the pulsating encounter and Chelsea were crowned Champions of Europe for the second time.
Guardiola’ s magic yet again could not save his team from defeat at the hands of Chelsea who also conquered his Barcelona side on their way to winning the trophy in 2011/2012 season while his army were left pondering and asking themselves how they let slip off their hands the trophy they craves.
Sport Angle Int'l- SAI SPORTS 